Box Score
ST. GEORGE, UTAH -- Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team fared well in its first road game of the 2007-08 season.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead and went on to a 79-67 victory over Dixie State College Friday night in St. George, Utah. Cal State L.A. (6-2) won its third straight game with the victory over an NCAA Division II West Region opponent and was victorious in its first game of the regular season away from the Eagles Nest.
Dejon Prejean led the way, pouring in a season-high 28 points to lead three Golden Eagles in double figures. Prejean was 10-of-16 from the floor and made four of his five attempts from behind the 3-point arc. Demetrius Hazel continued his hot shooting and added 16 points. He made four more 3-pointers, including a pair during an important stretch in the first half.
Louis Hamilton contributed 10 points and six rebounds, while Vincent Camper had nine points, four rebounds and five assists.
Cal State L.A. shot 49.1 percent from the field and made half of its 16 tries from 3-point range. Dixie State held a slim 37-34 rebounding edge.
Dixie State College (3-5), a member of the Pacific West Conference, made only five of its 17 tries from 3-point range. Kasey Winters had 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Rebels, while Dan Stock had nine points.
Dixie State College led early, 7-4, but a 3-pointer by Prejean tied the game. The game was tied a final time at 16-16 before a 3-[pointer by Hazel started an 8-0 run that gave the Golden Eagles the lead for good. Two free throws by Christopher Mark and another 3-pointer by Hazel made it 24-16.
The Rebels closed the deficit to 33-29, but Cal State L.A. closed the half with a 12-3 run that included the final seven points of the half. A dunk by Tyler Polo after a steal and assist from Eric Flournoy, a 3-pointer by Prejean and a layup by Prejean gave the Golden Eagles a 47-32 halftime lead.
The Golden Eagles scored the first basket of the second half on a layup by Hamilton with an assist from Christofer Hart to take their biggest lead of the game at 49-32. Dixie State got as close as eight points, 49-41, with 16:42 to go, but the Golden Eagles responded with an 8-0 run to boost the lead to 57-41 after a steal by Hamilton and a fastbreak layup by Camper with 14:50 remaining.
The Golden Eagles kept double-digit advantages the rest of the way. Dixie State cut the deficit to 74-64 with 1:52 to go, but a layup by Prejean with an assist from Hart stopped the Rebels' run.
Hart finished with eight points, six rebounds and four assists for the Golden Eagles.
Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday, Dec. 28, with a home game against Le Moyne College of New York.
